Toothbrush

Abstract

A bent wire serves to form a loop for assembly receiving a brush head of a toothbrush, the bent wire also forming a pair of shanks which are received in a handle holding the shanks together to close the loop and return the brush head assembly therein. At least one of the shanks has formations indexable in the handle. Between the end portions of the shanks and the loop, coil springs are formed in the wire to allow mobility of the brush head in all directions perpendicular to the longitudinal axis thereof.

I claim: 
     
       1. A toothbrush comprising: an elongated brush head having a longitudinal axis;   a support formed from a continuous spring-steel wire and defining an elongated loop constituting a head portion receiving said brush head and a stem portion connected with said head portion and formed by two shanks of said wire, said shanks being formed with respective coil springs, each of said coil springs having a plurality of turns of said wire enabling elastic displacement of said head in all directions transverse to said axis of said head, said shanks having end portions extending away from said springs; and   a handle removably fitting over said end portions for drawing said end portions together and closing said loop to retain said brush head in said head portion, said loop opening to release said brush head upon release by said handle of said end portions, said springs each having a coil axis inclined to said longitudinal axis outwardly toward said end portions, one of said end portions being displaceable toward said longitudinal axis upon sliding of said handle over said end portions, both of said end portions being receivable at least in part in said handle upon shifting of said handle over said end portions, thereby exerting a force on said head portion counter to a spring force of said wire, said handle having a guide track for said end portions formed with openings in which at least one of said end portions is indexable.   
     
     
       2. The toothbrush defined in claim 1 wherein said one of said end portions has a spring element biasing said one of said end portions into said openings. 
     
     
       3. The toothbrush defined in claim 2 wherein said wire and said handle are composed of V4A medicinal steel. 
     
     
       4. The toothbrush defined in claim 3, further comprising a housing receiving said handle, said housing having a compartment receiving at least one said brush head. 
     
     
       5. The toothbrush defined in claim 4 wherein said handle has a thumb rest formed by a piece of the handle turned back on itself. 
     
     
       6. The toothbrush defined in claim 5 wherein said loop is formed on opposite sides of said head with respective juts fitting into corresponding recesses formed in said brush head. 
     
     
       7. A toothbrush comprising: an elongated brush head having a longitudinal axis;   a support formed from a continuous spring-steel wire and defining an elongated loop constituting a head portion receiving said brush head and a stem portion connected with said head portion and formed by two shanks of said wire, said shanks being formed with respective coil springs, each of said coil springs having a plurality of turns of said wire enabling elastic displacement of said head in all directions transverse to said axis of said head, said shanks having end portions extending away from said springs; and   a handle removably fitting over said end portions for drawing said end portions together and closing said loop to retain said brush head in said head portion, said loop opening to release said brush head upon release by said handle of said end portions said handle having a guide track for said end portions formed with openings in which at least one of said end portions is indexable.   
     
     
       8. The toothbrush defined in claim 7 wherein said one of said end portions has a spring element biasing said one of said end portions into said openings. 
     
     
       9. A toothbrush comprising: an elongated brush head having a longitudinal axis;   a support formed from a continuous spring-steel wire and defining an elongated loop constituting a head portion receiving said brush head and a stem portion connected with said head portion and formed by two shanks of said wire, said shanks being formed with respective coil springs, each of said coil springs having a plurality of turns of said wire enabling elastic displacement of said head in all directions transverse to said axis of said head, said shanks having end portions extending away from said springs; and   a handle removably fitting over said end portions for drawing said end portions together and closing said loop to retain said brush head in said head portion, said loop opening to release said brush head upon release by said handle of said end portions, said handle has a thumb rest formed by a piece of the handle turned back on itself.   
     
     
       10. A toothbrush comprising: an elongated brush head having a longitudinal axis;   a support formed from a continuous spring-steel wire and defining an elongated loop constituting a head portion receiving said brush head and a stem portion connected with said head portion and formed by two shanks of said wire, said shanks being formed with respective coil springs, each of said coil springs having a plurality of turns of said wire enabling elastic displacement of said head in all directions transverse to said axis of said head, said shanks having end portions extending away from said springs; and   a handle removably fitting over said end portions for drawing said end portions together and closing said loop to retain said brush head in said head portion, said loop opening to release said brush head upon release by said handle of said end portions, said loop being formed on opposite sides of said head with respective juts fitting into corresponding recesses formed in said brush head.